A man’s scalp got the most money, women next and children less. Of course, they called the women “squaws” which is a dirty term relating to a woman’s genitals and the white man couldn’t pronounce a word so they called it “squaw”.

Just the other day in the Kennebec (Maine) Journal was an article of someone on Craig’s List trying to sell the scalps of Maine Indians. Included were men, “squaws” and children identified somehow. The person would sell only to a white person.

It has been referred to the FBI and they are investigating now whether it is real or a hoax.

Either way, it brought back the old feelings of not being quite “good” enough for the prejudiced white people in some of Maine. It angered me and at the same time made me so sad I wept because these could be the flesh and hair of some of my ancestors and if real we need to recover them and give them a decent burial.

I feel the same way when I read “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” and I’ve read it three times.

We shared everything we had with the white colonists and what did we get in return besides diseases and killing, moving us to reservations with land that was barren and no one else wanted?

We would have shared with them forever if they had just let us live by them in peace. Scalping is not an Indian thing. It’s a white man’s tool of torture, learned well by the Indians.

If this book is down on Indians I doubt I’ll read it as it will just make me more angry, especially if it is about tribes that would include mine or have married into my tribe.

Since you’re from Maine you will probably enjoy the Maine scenery and background. You should also know that American Indians are treated as both allies and enemies in the books. Some of the attitudes of various characters will certainly raise your ire.

You can, at times, see Roberts old-style of liberalism peeking through and some of his biases and misunderstandings regarding Christians showing.

Now you may be wondering why I recommend the books! They take you back to the time and they really helped me realize the prize that was paid by so many in the founding of our nation.